About Us
Umekichi Yoneyama Memorial Hall (Public Interest Incorporated Foundation, which is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization in Japan)
The Umekichi Yoneyama Memorial Hall was established in 1969 to honor the achievements and philosophy of Umekichi Yoneyama (1868–1946), a Japanese businessman and one of the founders of the Rotary Club in Japan.
The memorial hall is located in Nagaizumi-cho, Sunto-gun, Shizuoka Prefecture - an area situated at the foot of Mount Fuji. It collects, preserves, and exhibits materials related to the history of the Rotary movement in Japan and the life of Umekichi Yoneyama, who played a significant role in the development of the Rotary movement within the country.
To commemorate his services and contributions, the Umekichi Yoneyama Memorial Hall was established as a foundation in 1969 and opened to the public in September 1969. The current facility is a three-story, reinforced-concrete building constructed on the site of the former Yoneyama residence, with a total floor area of 1,026 square meters.
Inside, the hall features exhibits on the life and philosophy of Umekichi Yoneyama and the history of the Rotary movement in Japan. The hall also hosts various programs, including lectures and research seminars. The original memorial hall building is now used as the Yoneyama Bunko Children’s Library.
| Access: | Located 2.1 km from the nearest station, JR Mishima Station, and 5.4 km from the Nagaizumi-Numazu Interchange on the Shin-Tomei Expressway. |
| Address: | 346-1 Kamitogari, Nagaizumi-cho, Sunto-gun, Shizuoka 411-0941, Japan |
| Phone: | +81-55-986-2946 |
For more on the history of the Rotary movement in Japan—in which Umekichi Yoneyama was deeply involved—please visit the website of the Tokyo Rotary Club, the first Club established in Japan.